Gossip
RED with rage
How Jadon Sancho’s infamous training row with Ten Hag unfolded with boss told Man Utd ‘bought the wrong player’
Tensions started to mount after just two matches of the Dutchman's tenure
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A FRESH report has claimed to have revealed how the row between Erik ten Hag and Jadon Sancho ignited in a training ground bust-up.
The 24-year-old returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January following an explosive exit from Manchester United.
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The future of the winger remains up-in-the-air after he excelled in helping the Germans to reach the Champions League final.
They would love to keep him, but they are unable to afford him.
And after Ten Hag was finally confirmed to be staying on as United manager this week, it seems that he is unlikely to have a route back to Old Trafford.
Now the start of the bust-up between the Dutchman and Sancho has allegedly been revealed.
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And it all erupted in a big argument at the club’s training HQ.
The says: “Ten Hag’s disappointment with Sancho over his application came to a head during a training session before the Arsenal game in September.
“Sancho did not commit to pressing as an ‘opposition’ player in the practice match in the way Ten Hag wanted.
“Sancho was offered the chance to end his involvement early, which he took by walking off the pitch.”
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Sancho was subsequently left out of the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, and when quizzed on the player’s absence after, Ten Hag had said his training was not up to standard.
That led to Sancho making his infamous post on social media in response that effectively called Ten Hag a liar and accused him of double standards.
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He wrote: “Please don't believe everything you read!
“I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week.
“I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't go into, I've been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair!”
Ten Hag then allegedly “attempted to explain his point to Sancho in one meeting at Carrington”.
He then tried to schedule another meeting with the attacker where it was expected that the player would “privately” apologise face-to-face - but that failed to occur.
Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten Hag
ERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.
Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.
Gareth Southgate
Enjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn't talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.
Kieran McKenna
Talks were opened with McKenna's representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag's Wembley win.
Roberto De Zerbi
Allegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.
Thomas Frank
Brentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.
Marco Silva
Fulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.
Mauricio Pochettino
Fell out of Man Utd's thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Thomas Tuchel
Made a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.
Ruben Amorim
Sporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.
Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager was considered in the early stages.
Sancho was made to train on his own, and wasn't even allowed to eat with his team-mates in United's canteen after being exiled by Ten Hag.
The boss reportedly “felt Sancho was an incredible player but that his attitude did not correspond to a winning culture”.
And that was not the only time that Ten Hag’s patience had been tested with the ace.
Apparently, after just his second game in charge back in 2022 away to Brentford Sancho is reported to have told him “United had bought the wrong player because his preference was to play on the left, rather than the right”.
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This is what guided Ten Hag to go for a player to go on the left towards the end of that summer transfer window.
And that is eventually what led to him signing Antony from Ajax, who ironically has played largely on the right.
“Cheeky chap” Sancho was given two months away from the club in order to decompress and go to Holland to work away from the spotlight during Ten Hag’s first season.
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However, “when Sancho seemed to ignore assistant Mitchell van der Gaag in a session, Ten Hag felt he crossed a line” and that led to him stepping in.
United are now looking to sell Sancho this summer and will accept £40m - a lot less than the £73m they forked out for him.
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